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Description:

This report documents a long term performance study of two ion exchange (IE) and two activated alumina (AA) treatment plants to remove arsenic from drinking water. Performance information was collected on these systems that are located in the northeast for one full year. The study involved the collecting of weekly or biweekly water samples through each treatment train and every fourth set of water samples was speciated for As III and As V. Resin regeneration samples were also collected from one system and exhausted activated alumina samples were collected from the two activated alumina plants for analysis. The two AA plants were similar in design with each having two parallel treatment trains. Each treatment train consisted of two media tanks in series; the first tank was used as a roughing filter and the second one was used as a polishing filter. Both systems were operated on a media throw-away basis. The influent arsenic levels of the two plants averaged 53 ug/l and 63 ug/L and the arsenic concentrations of the effluent from both plants were consistently below 5 ug/l. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) tests were conducted on exhausted AA samples and all passed the limits established for metals including arsenic. The inlet arsenic concentrations of the two ion exchange plants range from 45 to 76 ug/L. Both plants were capable of reducing the arsenic levels to less than 5 ug/L. One plant, however, was operated beyond arsenic breakthrough and arsenic chromatographic peaking occurred.

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Related Organizations:

Role: OWNER
Organization Name: US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Organization Name: OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Organization Name: NATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH LABORATORY
Organization Name: WATER SUPPLY AND WATER RESOURCES DIVISION